Aquaculture production costs have increased significantly since mid-2021. Raw materials have become less available and with significant increases in purchase prices. This started even before the war in Ukraine, which made all these aspects even worse. AquaFarm will discuss possible remedies, including reforms and targeted regulatory and administrative interventions, that could facilitate aquaculture companies from May 25-27 at Pordenone Fiere, Italy.
The increase in electricity costs, on average higher than 100% for companies in the primary sector, is affecting fish farming as well, where electric drives are widespread. Aquaculture, mainly fresh and brackish water, is directly affected. The effects of the increases, which are added to those of other supplies necessary for breeding, starting with feed, push up production costs and as a consequence, the costs of the finished product.
AquaFarm will dedicate an entire session of its conference program to these topics, focusing on both short and medium-term remedies. Energy costs are not destined to fall in foreseeable times and the decisive solution, namely the self-production of electricity using renewable sources not subject to market influences or byproducts of fish production, finds also financing opportunities in some forms of public aid and investment support.
A particular self-production technology is floating photovoltaics. During the session SOS costs! The rising cost of energy in food production, Maarten Van Cleef, Italy country manager at Lakectricity, one of the companies in Europe and Italy is concentrating on this sector, will explain the advantages and characteristics of photovoltaics on water surfaces.
A potential source of energy for aquaculture installations is the one deriving from the biogas produced by the wastewater. The theoretical possibility has always clashed with the problem that the wastewater is very diluted, therefore, the exclusive use would require an expensive dehydration and concentration process also from an energetic point of view. The research conducted, among others by Ciro Vismara at CREA, will point out that if fish waste is integrated with other digestible components, such as processing waste and non-food crops, the process can be convenient.
All these interventions have a cost. Financial support tools are currently available. Giorgio Venceslai, head of business services at ISMEA, will talk about this topic. Crises, including those relating to rising energy costs, must not be suffered but faced up.
For more information, visit AquaFarm www.aquafarm.show.
